September 1st marked the beginning of the sed semester at Aoba Johsai High School, but for the members of the volleyball club, today held additional significe.
After the lunch break, the drowsy students noisily gathered in the sunlit auditorium. The warm rays streaming through the windows made the hall feel cosy, and the m's opening ceremony had already lulled many into a near-slumber.
The afternoon was dedicated to club recruitment and oath ceremonies, leaving those uninvolved in clubs restless and distracted.
Behind the stage, Tōru Oikawa and Taichi Kaedehara waited. As the captain and ace of the volleyball club, they were expected to deliver speeches.
Anxious about the possibility of them going off-script, team manager Sadayuki Mizoguchi had repeatedly emphasized the importanemorizing the speech draft. He even enlisted Hajime Iwaizumi to supervise the pair.
"Taichi, have you memorized your part?" Oikawa asked nervously.
For some reason, he found this school ceremony more nerve-wrag than a televised interview—likely because a misstep here meant fag Iwaizumi's iron fist.
"Huh? Memorize? Nah, I'd rather use that time to learn Iori Yagami's move bos," Taichi replied nontly.
"Eh? Aren't you scared of Iwa-'s punches? He doesn't hold back with you anymore," Oikawa excimed, surprised that Taichi's trip to Hawaii seemed to have emboldened him.
True, they both got hit, but the force wasly equal, Taichi mused silently.
Out loud, he added, "Oikawa-senpai, haven't you been punched enough? One more or less doesn't make a difference. Why be scared now?" He paused, then smirked. "Besides, that official speech is s. Look at the audiehey're all about to fall asleep."
Onstage, the captain of the basketball club droned on. Since Aoba Johsai's basketball team had never even cracked the top eight in the prefecture, the audience's i was minimal, and the speaker himself looked eager to quickly.
"You've got a point! We're not like those teams!" Oikawa decred as if steeling himself for something bold.
For the volleyball club, recruiting new members wasn't a challenge.
Aoba Johsai's stroation ensured plenty of applits, and many students from Kitagawa Daiiaturally transitioned into the team. What they really wanted, however, was a new female team manager (a request strongly endorsed by Shigeru Yahaba, the captain).
After seeing Karasuno with two female managers, many first- and sed-year pyers were left feeling envious.
The baseball club's speech, oher hand, was surprisingly well-received.
he end, their members—uniformed pyers and substitutes alike—filed onto the stage, f several rows. Led by their captain, they broke into a team t.
The energy caught on, and the previously iive audience became lively. The ceremony culminated with the entire baseball team shouting in unison:
"Knock it out of the park!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as the team marched off stage.
"We 't lose to that!" Oikawa said, adjusting his bzer and mustering his energy before stepping onto the stage.
"I'm Tōru Oikawa, captain of the boys' volleyball team," he began, gng briefly at the ly arranged rows of students before diving into his speech.
Oikawa was fairly popur at Aoba Johsai, and the moment he and Taichi stepped on stage, a ripple of excitement swept through the crowd.
"Wow, Oikawa-senpai looks so handsome! And that tall, tanned pyer—he's cool too!"
"That's their ace, a first-year…He's even taller than Oikawa-senpai!"
Taichi raised an eyebrow. Tanned pyer? How rude! People dream of getting this handsome broohank you very much!
"Spring Nationals will be my final high school tour, and I promise to make every oppo we face cry by the end of it!" Oikawa decred with theatrical enthusiasm. Tossing aside the speech draft had indeed made him feel more fortable.
Grinning, he cast a grateful g Taichi.
Only to see the first-year pulling out a small, densely scribbled note from his pocket.
Oikawa's smile froze as dread crept over him. Sure enough, Taichi began his own speech.
-----
"TAICHI!! WHERE IS THAT IDIOT OIKAWA TōRU?!"
Hajime Iwaizumi's fist was ched so tightly it shook. As soon as the ceremony ehe principal had ered him to deliver a scolding about Oikawa's improvised remarks.
He was so angry he used Oikawa's full name—a rare occurrehat signalled immi doom.
"I 't believe this! Even after all my warnings, Oikawa-senpai just had to do things his way. What a disappoi!" Taichi said, shaking his head in mock dismay.
"OIKAWA TōRU! YOU ARE DEAD!!" Iwaizumi's fury fred.
Meanwhile, Oikawa was hiding in a nearby bush, trembling. Ohing was now clear: Hawaii hadn't just taaichi's skin—it had bed his heart!
-----
Tōru Oikawa ultimately couldn't escape Hajime Iwaizumi's wrath. However, Taichi Kaedehara didn't emerge unscathed either.
The two of them were now doing diving drills in the gym, cirg around their teammates as punishment.
The repetitive exercise remiaichi of the first time he was disciplined.
Ever since being a starter, he hadn't had the ce to observe his teammates from this perspective in a while…
[Tōru Oikawa]: Overall Skill Rating 91.5, Height: 186 cm, Strength: 95, Jump: 86, Stamina: 90, Speed: 88.Key Attributes: Serve: 97, Set: 97.
Oikawa-senpai had finally broken past the barrier of ialent. Now, he was undoubtedly at a level where he wouldn't lose to anyone.
The title he lost to Atsumu Miya at Nationals? He was determio recim it at the Spring Tour.
[Hajime Iwaizum: Overall Skill Rating 88.8, Height: 179.3 cm, Strength: 95, Jump: 85, Stamina: 88, Speed: 88.Key Attributes: Recieve: 90, Spike: 85.
With his outstanding and near-elite receiving ability, Iwaizumi-senpai was truly the foundation of Aoba Johsai. If not for his height, he could have been one of the top wing spikers in the try.
[Kentaro Kyotani (Mad Dog)]: Overall Skill Rating 88.6, Height: 178 cm, Strength: 95, Jump: 90, Stamina: 83, Speed: 85.Key Attributes: Spike: 90.
Mad Dog's strength and jump had reached new heights, though his speed had slightly decreased due to increased muscle mass. Fag powerhouse spikers like Wakatoshi Ushijima, Wakatsu Kiryū, and An Ojiro at Nationals had shaken his fidence.
But after growth es aronger pyer!
[Takahiro Hanamak: Overall Skill Rating 83, Height: 185 cm, Strength: 88, Jump: 82, Stamina: 85, Speed: 75.Key Attributes: Recieve: 85, Spike: 85.
Hanamaki-senpai had shown steady improvement.
[Takahiro Hanamak: Overall Skill Rating 83, Height: 188 cm, Strength: 88, Jump: 75, Stamina: 85, Speed: 85.Key Attributes: Recieve: 85, Spike: 80.
Matsukawa-senpai's pying time had decreased retly, but during his stint as a substitute, he focused on honing his blog skills.
At the Spring Tour, with Matsukawa, Yūtarō Kindaichi, and Taichi Kaedehara f a defensive wall, Aoba Johsai's blog would bee a force to be reed with.
[Yūtarō Kindaibsp;Overall Skill Rating 83.5, Height: 190 cm, Strength: 85, Jump: 80, Stamina: 88, Speed: 80.Key Attributes: Block: 88, Spike: 83.
Kindaichi's growth was remarkable. After finding his dire, he was being the t presehat Aoba Johsai needed.
[Akira Kunim: Overall Skill Rating 85, Height: 183 cm, Strength: 85, Jump: 85, Stamina: 85, Speed: 85.Key Attributes: Recieve: 85, Spike: 85.
Though he often seemed zy and indifferent, Kunimi had bee the most improved pyer oeam.
Taichi always knew Kunimi had potential, but even he hadn't anticipated this level ress.
[Shinji Watar: Overall Skill Rating 81.8, Height: 172 cm, Strength: 70, Jump: 88, Stamina: 80, Speed: 85.Key Attributes: Recieve: 88, Set: 85.
Watari quietly supported the team, always dependable. Taichi could still remember how many of his spikes were saved by Watari's perfect passes.
[Yahaba Shigeru]: Overall Skill Rating 81.8, Height: 181 cm, Strength: 80, Jump: 75, Stamina: 75, Speed: 85.Key Attributes: Recieve: 89, Set: 89.
Yahaba had been w tirelessly to improve his teique. Though often overlooked, his time to shine would e—his hard work was bound to pay off.
No one oeam was standing still. Everyone was striving to move forward. During the three-week break Coach Irihata had given them, every single member of Aoba Johsai had tiraining on their own.
Even Kunimi had beeing with Kindaichi for practice sessions every afternoon.
The national top eight was not their final goal. Everyone could see the path ahead, and no one was willing to let this precious opportunity slip away.
After finishing his final p of diving drills, Taichi felt both physically aally refreshed.
Aoba Johsai had grown into a t tree, and by the Spring Tour, they would cast their shadow over every oppo who dared to face them.
During the oath ceremony, in addition to reg his speech, Taichi had also added a few words of his own:
"oals for this Spring Tour are simple and clear."
"First, Aoba Johsai will quer the nation."
"Sed, Oikawa-senpai will bee the best setter in Japan."
"Third, I will bee the stro a the try."
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